Wind River Expedition (15 days)

“The summer – no sweeter was ever;
The sunshiny woods all a thrill;
The grayling aleap in the river,
The bighorn asleep on the hill.
The strong life that never knows harness;
The wilds where the caribou call;
The freshness, the freedom, the farness –
Oh God! How I’m stuck on it all.”

Robert Service – The Spell of the Yukon

Come experience the Midnight Sun—while being guided down the beautiful Wind River. The rugged northern beauty of the Wind River offers some of the most spectacular hiking and whitewater canoeing in North America. It is one of the major waterways of the Peel Watershed and one of North America’s most intact natural ecosystems–a region of mountains, deep canyons, plateaus, wetlands and rolling hills laced by rivers.

The Wind River offers exciting and friendly class I-II whitewater canoeing for intermediate canoeists. Your guide will ensure that you safely manoeuvre the whitewater and have an exciting paddle through the rapids. With fourteen days of trip, you will have the opportunity to take a break from paddling to hike the vast and beautiful wilderness of the Wernecke Mountains. These easy hikes offer spectacular panoramic views of the Wind River and it’s tributaries. Your guide will stop along the river in areas well-known for viewing wildlife such as; wolves, dall sheep, and woodland caribou. If you are a bird viewing enthusiast, then take time to explore the extensive wetlands. Keep an eye out for the soaring peregrine falcons and other birds of prey that nest along the high ridges. This river trip is two weeks of the most authentic wilderness travel. Join us and experience amazing wildlife viewing opportunities and crystal-clear streams, while paddling through an incredible boreal ecosystem.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1:Arrival in Whitehorse. Up North Adventure’s shuttle will greet you at the airport. Meet the other trip participants that night, when your guide will verify your personal gear and go through any last minute questions. Participants are then invited to explore the City of Whitehorse, enjoy a good meal or take in some historic sights around town on their own. Enjoy your first night in Whitehorse in a hotel (included in price) located in downtown, within walking distance to all attractions and restaurants for your first evening.

Day 2:We are heading North. Our shuttle van brings you through the heart of the Yukon. At Mayo, we unload the canoes and get all gear ready to go into the float plane waiting to take us north into the wilderness. McClusky Lake is our destination for today. Weather permitting we will reach it’s shores in the early evening, which gives us time to set up camp, get the fire going and cook supper. Blown away by the majestic mountains surrounding us, hungry for more of it and satisfied to see it tomorrow, we will retire for our first night in the wilderness.

Day 3:Getting up is easy – we long to explore this magnificent country. We start with a hearty breakfast, then break camp. A short portage brings us to a nearby creek. Where we will load all gear in our canoes and the adventure starts. This creek may be low and we may need to line our boats for part way. Finally we reach the Wind River itself. Opalescent blue waters and a good current awaits us. We set off.

The days are ours to enjoy. Tight corners and sweepers cannot hold us back. We navigate the upper waters of the Wind River with wild abandon, while the rugged Wernecke Mountains stand guard on both sides.

Day 4 – 11:True wilderness wraps itself around us. We get immersed in a world beyond description: lonely and remote, but still full of life and plants. Incredible mountain scenery invites us to stop and explore their heights. Our daily chores of camping, paddling and resting quickly turn into routine. We become one in the group and are reminded of the life the voyageur people lived when exploring this whole country, more than 100 of years ago. We help, we share and we admire together. Our trip leads us through traditional territory of the Nacho N’y’ak Dun and Tetl’it Gwich’in First Nations in the most authentic way possible.

The following days are filled with fun filled paddling hours and exciting long hikes with rewarding incredible views. Mysterious evenings around the campfire follow, while we listen to the hooting of owls, the faint howling of wolves and all the other voices of the night. Just being here instills a feeling of happiness, that is truly rare in today’s world.

Day 12 – 13:Our days on the Wind River come to an end. We have left the mountainous landscape behind and are getting delivered into the famous Peel River, after which the whole watershed area is named. The Peel ‘s broader waters will eventually show us to some fine Class II rapids. The last days we are in for a nice whitewater ride through the Lower Peel Canyon.

Day 14:We are seasoned now, and would really rather like to stay out here. However the pick-up point comes ever closer. On the gravely shores of “Taco Bar” we set up our last camp. Looking back on two weeks of true wilderness adventure makes the arrival of the float plane somewhat easier. We can always come back!

The pilot takes us to Mayo, where Up North’s shuttle van waits for our ride back to Whitehorse. One last time we watch Yukon’s heartland glide by our window in its full glamor. In Whitehorse we settle back into civilization and a cozy night at your hotel.

Come join a great adventure!

* Note:
Due to the expeditionary nature of this program, changes to the itinerary are a possibility and are left up to the discretion of the guide. All attempts will be made to complete the trip within the outlined timeline.